When we stand

"no man too haftily defpair of the caufe, "we are now pleading. 66 up in its defence, there "will lend an ear to us.

are those who For, whatever

"the vain, or the vicious may pretend, "the prophetic writings are not fallen fo "low in the esteem of mankind, but that "there are numberless perfons of good sense "and ferious difpofitions, who wish to see "the truth of the Gofpel confirmed by "them; and are ready to embrace that "truth, when fairly fet before them, and "fupported by the clear evidence of histo"rical teftimony and well-interpreted "fcripture."

Such is the language, which I am not afraid to hold to the defponding party among us. But should my confidence, or my candour, tranfport me too far, should even their apprehenfions be ever so well founded, the zeal of thofe, who preach the Gofpel, is not to abate, but to exert itself with new vigour under fo difcouraging a profpect, If there be a way left to

ftrike conviction into the hearts of unbelievers, it must, probably, be, by preffing this great point of prophetic inspiration, and by turning their attention on a miracle, now wrought, or ready to be wrought before their eyes. Or, let the event be what' it will, our duty is, to illuftrate the word of prophecy, and to enforce it; to withftand the torrent of infidelity with what fuccefs we may, and, if it should prevail over all our efforts, to make full proof, at leaft, of our fincerity and good will.

In the mean time, it becomes all others to retain and cultivate in themselves a respect for the prophetic writings; which either are, or, for any thing that has yet appeared, may be divine. To treat them, without the fulleft conviction of their falfhood, with neglect and scorn, is plainly indecent, and may be highly criminal and dangerous,

Jofephus tells us, that, in the last dreadful ruin of his unhappy countrymen, it VOL. II.

was

was familiar with them, to make a jeft of divine things, and to deride, as fo many fenfelefs tales and juggling impoftures, the facred oracles of their prophets [w]; though they were then fulfilling before their eyes, and even upon themselves.

But the cafe, perhaps, is different; and we have no concern, in the prophecies concerning Papal Rome.

What! Have we no concern in those prophecies (fuppofing, I mean, that they are prophecies at all, and, that there is reafon for applying them to the church of Papal Rome) WE, who have but just been delivered from the more than Egyptian bondage, which they predict; and are, therefore, bound by every tye of intereft, of gratitude, and of charity, to affert to ourselves, and to communicate to others, as far as we are able, the bleffings of that

[ω] Ἐγελᾶτο δὲ τὰ θεῖα, καὶ τὰς τῶν προφητῶν θεσμὸς ὥσπερ ἀγυρικὰς λογοποιίας, ἐχλεύαζον.

Fl. Jofeph. B. J. 1. iv. 6.

liberty,

liberty, wherewith Chrift has made us free [x]? Have we no concern in the several ufes, mentioned in this discourse; and in many others, which I have not mentioned; it being well known, that all inspired fcripture (of which prophecy is fo eminent a part) is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteoufness [y]?

Or, fuppofing that we had no direct concern in these prophecies, and fuppofing, farther, that the divine authority of them was even problematical; ftill it may deferve to be confidered, I mean, by men the most libertine, who have not yet convinced themfelves, by an exact and critical inquiry, of their utter falfhood and infignificancy; I fay, it merits the reflexion of all fuch, That the contempt of the prophecies, under thefe circumstances, has a natural tendency to corrupt the temper and harden the heart, And is there no room to queftion, whe

[x] Gal. x. I.

Q 2

[] 2 Tim, iii. 16,

ther

ther this conduct, plainly an immoral conduct, be adviseable or safe?

Let us then, on a principle of self-love, if not of piety, keep the sayings of this book, concerning THE MAN OF SIN. From many appearances, the appointed time for the full completion of them may not be very remote. And it becomes our prudence to take heed that we be not found in the number of thofe, to whom that awful question is proposed-How is it, that ye do not difcern the figns of this time?

Nay, there are prophecies, which, in that cafe, may concern us more nearly, than we think. St. Paul applied ONE of these, to the unbelieving Jews; of whose mockery, and of whofe fate, ye have heared what their own historian witneffeth: And, if we equal their obdurate fpirit, that prophecy may clearly be applied, and no man can say, that it was not intended to be applied, to ourselves.

Beware